In today's readings, we get a glimpse into the loving heart of God. God, who creates all things and sustains them by His love, also sustains them through His mercy. For when His wrath is kindled, it is only because He wants goodness. He wants purity. He wants holiness. He wants us to treat each other rightly. And so, before He comes in His justice, God always comes first in His mercy.
We see this playing out in both readings today. First from the Book of the prophet Hosea, and then in the Gospel, where Jesus lovingly sends out His Apostles to proclaim the Good News and to extend His mercy to the world in the Gospel of Matthew.
First, from the Book of the prophet Hosea, we read: “Thus says the Lord: When Israel was a child I loved him. Out of Egypt I called my son. The more I called them, the farther they went from me, sacrificing to the Baals and burning incense to idols. Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, who took them in my arms. I drew them with human cords, with bands of love. I fostered them like one who raises an infant to his cheeks. Yet though I stooped to feed my child, they did not know that I was their healer. My heart is overwhelmed, my pity is stirred. I will not give vent to my blazing anger. I will not destroy Ephraim again. For I am God and not man, the Holy One present among you. I will not let the flames consume you.” (Hosea 11:1–4, 8–9)
Okay, so this is our first reading. What's going on here?
First of all, the prophet Hosea prophesied in the northern kingdom of Israel around 750 to 722 BC, which means that this was the final generation before the Assyrian conquest and destruction of Samaria in 722 BC, which is what he warned the people would happen. Again, mercy before judgment.
Politically, Israel was unstable: assassinations, conspiracies, and the frequent changes of kings. Spiritually, the nation had abandoned their relationship with the Lord, worshipping rather Baal. And so Hosea uses the moving image of God as a loving Father. “Out of Egypt I called my son” (Hosea 11:1) recalls the Exodus, when God liberated Israel and entered into covenant with them. Instead of gratitude, Israel repeatedly turned to idols and false gods.
What about us, my brothers and sisters? How many times do we fill our lives with emptiness, with false hopes? And we place our trust in things like money and power, and our own way of doing things, rather than trusting in God's providence to guide us, to move us, to provide for us.
And so Jesus in today's Gospel reminds the Apostles: “Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts, no sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals, or a walking stick. The labourer deserves his keep.” (Matthew 10:9–10) In other words, the Lord is saying, “I'm going to send you on this mission. Don't take anything with you because I am going to provide everything for you as you go along your way.”
“Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it and stay there until you leave.” (Matthew 10:11) Look, our Lord wants us to seek out good people. Our Lord wants us to spend time with one another who are Catholic in the faith, who desire to grow in holiness, who are appalled by some of the things going on in the world. And together, unified, we can pray, we can grow in living our vocation, and allowing the Holy Spirit to sanctify us personally, individually, but so that we can continue to make the journey together.
“Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words, go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet. Amen, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.” (Matthew 10:14–15)
My dear brothers and sisters, how often do we painstakingly try to reach out to others, only to be rejected once, twice, three times? And here our Lord is saying, you know, don't cast pearls before swine. In other words, offer the treasure of the Gospel to those who will listen. Whoever doesn't listen, whoever is proud, whoever is arrogant, whoever thinks that they know all things and just will not listen to you, move on. Move on with the Lord's blessing. Shake the dust off your feet and continue to focus on your own salvation. As Saint Paul says: “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” (Philippians 2:12)
My brothers and sisters, the Lord is offering mercy to the world before He comes in justice. For each and every one of us will see Him coming on the clouds of heaven with the angels and the saints. And as Saint John says: “They will all see him, even those who pierced him.” (Revelation 1:7) In other words, those who once drove nails through His hands and feet, and pierced His side with a lance, all of them will see Him coming.
If they had converted and become saints, as Saint Longinus is said to have become a saint, the one who speared the Lord in the side, in His heart, in His Sacred Heart, converted and became a saint, we will be happy seeing the Lord coming in the clouds of heaven in all glory.
But those who have not prepared, those who mocked the only begotten Son of God and trampled His blood underfoot, will beat their breast and will regret the day that they rejected all the mercy that God had sent to them by way of messengers, people like you and me, who are just trying to pass on the Good News of the Lord, life-changing, life-giving, the joyful Word of God that changes our lives.
Be of good heart.
May the Lord continue to bless you and strengthen you.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Add comment
Comments